Travel insurance warning for people heading to 'dangerous' locations

15 April 2009 07:17

As the first organised British tourist group returns from Iraq since the outbreak of war in 2003, it has been highlighted how important it is for holidaymakers to check that travel insurance will cover them in their foreign destination.

However the Telegraph reports on the case of Gordan Moore, a pensioner who has flaunted the FCO advice to travel to war zones around the world.

His latest trip - to Babylon and Basra in Iraq - carried great risk because of the political situation in the country and none of the people in the group were able to get travel insurance.

Mr Moore told the paper: "Of course plenty of people that I’ve told think I’m absolutely mad for going, especially because of my age, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. I had a brilliant time. "

For most holidaymakers though, it is crucial that they check the FCO does not warn against travelling to their destination before they set off, or they could find themselves uninsured against risk.

Currently, it advises against travel to all parts of Somalia and to parts of Afghanistan, Georgia, Iraq, Israel and Palestine, Lebanon, Nigeria, Thailand and Zimbabwe, as well as others.